Numbering or marking machine.



No. 712,324. Patentedoct. 28,1902

A. B. NEILL NUMBEBING 0H MARKING MACHINE.

(Application led Nov. 19, 1900.)

4 Sheets-Sheet l.-

(No Model.)

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No. 712,324. Pa'fe'nted Oct. 28, i902.

A. B. NEILL. umm-:mns onMARKlN'G MACHINE.

(Application led Nov. 19, .1909.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

no. 712,324. Patented venza, |902. A; B. NEILL. NUMvB-ERING R MARKING MACHINE.

. (Application tiled Nov. 19, 1900.)

v(No Model.)

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Patented not. 2a, |902. A. B. NEILL. l .Y NUMBEBINGORMARKING MACHINE.

(Application med Nw. 19, 1900.) l i (no Mdem Aswan-snee: 4.

UNITED STATES' ATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR B. NEILL, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THOMAS F. ARMSTRONG, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

NUMBERING on MARKlNG MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part-of Letters Patent No. 712,324, dated October 28, 1902i. Application filed November 19, 1900.y Serial No. 37,034. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR B. NEILL,a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented Improvements in Numberingor Marking Machines,

of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and efficient machine for use in public lanndries or fo: laundries of hotels and large 1o institutions for the purpose of marking different articles of clothing, bed and table linen, dac.. This marking of clothingin itself of course is not new; but the hand ,method heretofore employed has been crude, no two articles being marked precisely the same, giving rise to numerous mistakes, and the time consumed is more than is warranted for such work. l

Myinvention comprisesamachine formark- 2o ing or printing numbers or symbols upon the different articles of clothing or linen, and

while particularly. adapted for use in laundries it may be used by manufacturers of shirts, collars, and cuffs for the purpose ofprinting the name, size, and any other special mark or marks upon such goods.

My invention is fully described hereinafter, reference being had to lthe accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 isafroutelevation of my machine, partly in section. Fig-2 is a sideelevation, partlyinsection,showingapartof themachine broken away. Fig. 3 is asectional view looking in the same direction, taken Von the line a a, Fig. 1, showing the' mechanism of the machine in its normal position. Fig. 4 is a similar sectional view showing the mechan- Y ism of the machine when in the position to mark the goods. Fig. 5 is a plan view of a 4o portion of the machine. Fig.V is a sectional view of a part of the-machine, illustrating a' roller will be drawn across the disks in advance ofthe printingoperatiomand theplaten or platform against which the goods are held during the marking operation will be raised, so that a proper impression may be made.

In the drawingsherewith, 1 represents a frame by which and within which all the mechanism of my improved machine is carried. This frame is provided with a base 2, whereby 6o it may be secured to a table 3, and said frame is preferably inclosed in a casing 4.

1 Carried by a vertically-movable frame made up of the side members 5, guided upon rods 6, secured to the main frame of the machine at the upper portion of the same by suitable nuts, are the printing wheels or disks 7. These wheels are keyed or otherwise secured to a spindle S, jonrnaled in the side members 5 of the vertically-movable frame and 7o, are provided on their peripheries with a series of projections 9, carrying type-numerals from 1 to 0. To the face of each numbering wheel .'or disk a gear-wheel 10 is secured, through the medium of which gearwheels said numbering wheels or disks may be set by the toothed segments 11 of the setting-levers 12. These setting-levers are piv- -otally mounted on a fixed shaft 13, securedv to the side members 5 of the vertically-mov- 8o ing frame. The vertically-movable frame has a curved top 14, and this portion has a series of narrow curved plates 15 secured thereto, said plates being spaced apart to form slots 16 for the passage of the setting- 85 levers 12. A series of numbers are arranged adjacent to these slots to form indicating means, whereby the setting-levers may be adjusted to position the printing wheels or disks. The sides of the plates 15 are notched 9o at 17, and adapted to enter said notches and retain the levers 12 against accidental displacement when the latter are adjusted are spring-pawls 18, carried by said levers.

Supported between depending arms 19,

which are pivoted at 2O to the side members 5 of the vertically-moving frame, is the inking-roller 21. This inking-roller is maintained out of the way both when the numberingdisks are raised and when they are roo lowered by the movement of the frame by means of links 22, pivoted at 23to the frame l and at 24 to said arms 19, from which the inking-roller is hung.

The vertically-moving frame is depressed in the following manner: Pivoted at 25 to the front portion of the main frame l of the machine are a pair of levers 26, connected by means of links 27 to arms 28, carried by the vertically-moving frame. These levers 26 extend to the rear of the machine and are secured at 29 to spring-supported rods 30, which are connected by means of a cross-bar 3l to a rod or chain 32, the latter being attached to a foot-treadle or suitable hand-lever. The rods 30 are supported in their normal position by means of springs 33, preferably inclosed by a telescoping casing 34. (Clearly shown in Fig. 2.) The depression of the rod or chain 32 carries with it the rods 30, and the vertically-movable frame is thereby lowered so as to bring the printing disks or wheels in contact with the goods to mark the same. As the vertically-moving frame is depressed to bring the printing wheels or disks in engagement with the goods to be marked the lower portion of the arms 19, carrying the inking-roller 2l, are carried rearward, the dotted line an, Fig. 4, indicating the path of the inking-roller. By this means the typenumerals of the printing-disks will be inked at every depression of the vertically-movable frame preparatory to the marking of the goods.

Carried by the lower portion of the casing 4 or the main frame is an inking-pad 35, with which the inking-roller 2l is adapted to coutact when it is moved rearwardly as the numbering-disks are depressed. This pad has a pivotal mounting 3b at the front and is supported at the rear by means of a spring 37, so that it can be moved out of the way by the contact of the inking-roller without retarding the movement of said roller, and as said roller is rotated in its movement over the pad 35 'the pressure of the spring 37 insures the coating of the entire surface of the same with ink.

Pivotally hung beneath the frame l of the machine is a pad or platen 38, upon which the goods to be marked are placed, said pad or platen being carried by arms 39, pivoted at 40 to the base 2 of said frame. This pad or platen is adapted to be raised so that the numbering-wheels may contact with the goods carried thereby every time the vertically-moving frame is depressed. To insure the leveling of this pad or platen, it is pivotally hung at 4l to the arms 39, said arms having a depending portion 42, with which spring-arms 43, carried by said pad, are adapted to contact, said springs permitting the pad to adjust itself in the proper position when raised during the marking operation. The pad or platen 38 is operated as follows when the rods 30 are depressed by the treadle or lever connection 32: Pivoted at 44 to a depending arm 45, carried bythe depending portion 42 of the arms 39, is a link 46, resting upon a projection 47, forming a part of the base 2 of the machine, the opposite end of said link 46 being connected at 48 to a rod 49 hung from a yoke-piece 50, connected to the verticallymoving frame, said yoke-piece being carried by an arm 5l, secured to the vertically-moving frame. A spring 52 surrounds said rod 49 and is interposed between an adjustingnut on said rod and the upper portion of the yoke-piece 50, so that the pad or platen 38 will have a yielding support. The yoke-piece 50 may be secured in any suitable manner to the arm 5l, preferably by means of a screwbolt 54 and nut 55. 'lhe pad or platen 38 may be solid, though in some instances I may provide a resilient covering of felt, cloth, or other suitable material, (shown at 56.)

The setting-levers l2 are spaced apart as far as possible, the preferable arrangement being that shown in Fig. l, and to make them as easy of access as possible without danger of disarranging them after they have been once set they are graduated in height, the shortest lever being by preference on the right-hand side of the machine.

With the arrangement of the printing wheels or disks as shown in Fig. l the setting-pinions of the same must be carried thereby, and said wheels or disks must be spaced apart suiciently to permit of the engagement of the segmental racks of the setting -levers and said pinions, so that said printing-disks may be positioned to mark any desired number or combination of numbers. In Figs. 6 and 7, however, I have shown a modification of this arrangement in which the printing-disks are placed close together, so that there is very little space between the figures as printed, and a much neater marking is eli'ected. In this arrangement the pinions of the outside printing Wheels or disks are formed integral with said wheels or disks, and the inner wheels or disks are provided with extension-hubs 57, passing through the hubs of the outside wheels or disks and carrying pinions l0, keyed to the spindle 8 and disposed beyond the other pinions, In order that the setting-levers may be disposed in their proper position to adjust the printing wheels or disks successively from right to left or from left to right, as the case maybe, said levers are bent at 58 in the form shown in Fig. 6, and the racks l1L of the same are disposed in opposite directions, as shown in Fig. 7, said levers being provided with arms 59, arranged at an angle to the perpendicular and carrying the racks lla. With this arrangement the alternate wheels have their numerals running in opposite directions, so that the setting-levers need only be moved in one direction to position said wheels.

Although I have described my improved printing-machine as operated by the hand or foot, it will be understood that it may be operated by power, and the claims are intended to cover a power-operated machine as well as one operated manually.

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I claim as my inventionl. The combination in a numbering or marking machine of the character described, of the fixed frame, a vertically-movable frame arranged within the fixed frame, pivotallymounted links connecting said frames, means for supporting said links whereby the movable frame is held normally in the raisedA position, a series of marking devices carried by said frame, a movable platen for holding the articles to be marked, and means for depressing the marking devices, said means being loperatively connected to and serving to simultaneously raise said platen, substantially as described.

2. The combination in a numbering or marking machine of the character described, ofthe fixed frame, a series of adjustable marking devices arranged to move vertically within said fixed frame, pivotally-mounted links connecting said marking devices with the fixed frame, means for supporting said links whereby the movable frame is held normally in the raised position, a movable platen for holding the article to be marked, and means for depressing said marking devices, said means being operatively connected to, and serving to simultaneously raise said platen, substantially as described.

3. 'lhe combinationv in a numbering or marking machine of the character described, of a vertically-movable frame, a iixed frame, a series of wheels or disks carried by said movable frame, pivotally-mounted links connecting said frames, means for supporting said links whereby the movable frame is held normally inthe raised position, type numbers or symbols carried by said wheels or disks, a movablevplaten for holding the article to be marked, and means for depressing said wheels or disks, said means being operatively connected to and serving to simultaneously raise the coacting platen, substantially as described.V

4. The combination in a numbering or marking machine of the character described, of the main frame, a vertically-movable auxiliary frame carried thereby, a series of pivotally-mounted links attached to both frames and providing a connection between the same, means for supporting said links whereby the movable frame is held normally in the raised position, a series of numbering or marking wheels or disks carried by said lauxiliary frame, a movable platen carried by the main frame, and means for depressing the numbering or marking members, said means being con nected to, and serving to simultaneously raise the coacting platen, substantially asden scribed. i

5,. The combination vin a numbering or marking machine, of the character described, of the lnain frame, a series of movable marking devices arranged within said main frame, pivotally-mounted links affording a connection between said fixed frame and the movable marking devices, spring-supports for said links, a movable platen against which the article to be marked may be held, and means coacting with the link-supports for eecting -the simultaneous movement of the .marking devices and platen toward each other.

6. The combination in a numbering or marking machine of the character described, of the xed frame, a movable frame arranged within the fixed frame, pivotally-mounted link connections attached to said frames, a series of marking devices carried by the movable frame, a movable platen against which the articles to be marked may be held, spring supporting means for the flexible links and a connection between said links and the platen whereby the latter will be raised simultaneously with the depression of the marking devices.

7. The combination in a numbering or marking machine of the character described, of the main frame, an auxiliary movable frame carried thereby, pivotallymounted links connecting said frames, means for supporting said links whereby the movable frame will be held in the raised position, type numbers or symbols carried by said wheels or disks, a movable platen for holding the articles to be marked, means controlled by the movement of the auxiliary frame for inking said type numbers or symbols, and means for depressing said auxiliary frame, said means being operatively connected to and serving to simultaneously raise the platen,

,the movement of the latter taking place at such time as to clear the inking means.

S. The combination in a numbering or marking machine of the character described,

of the main frame, an auxiliary movable frame carried thereby, a series of pivoted links connecting said frames, means for supporting said links whereby the movableframe is maintained normally in a raised position, a series of wheels or disks carried by said auxiliary frame, type numbers or `symbols carried by said Wheels or disks, means for depressing said auxiliary frame, a platen for holding the articles to be marked, means for raising said platen as the type numbers or symbols are depressed, and means for inking said type numbers or symbols, said means being controlled by the movement of the auxiliary frame and the platen being raised simultaneously with the depression of said frame.

9. Thev combination in a numbering or marking machine of the character described, of the main frame, an auxiliary movable frame carried by said main frame, a seriesof numberingwheels or disks carried by said aux- ,iliary frame, pivotally-mounted links connect- IOO IIO

disks, and means Wholly independent thereof and located beyond the path of the wheels or disks for depressing the same and simultaneously raising the coacting platen, substantially as described.

10. The combination in a numbering or marking machine of the character described, ofthe main frame, a vertically-movable frame arranged within said main frame, a series of pivotally mounted links connecting said frames, a yielding support for said links whereby the movable frame may be maintained normally in the raised position, a series of wheels carried by the movable frame, said wheels having type-numbers on their peripheries, means located wholly beyond the path of said Wheels or disks for depressing the same, means for inking the type numbers or symbols as the wheels or disks are depressed, and means controlled by the depressing means for operating said inking means.

11. The combination in a numbering or marking machine, of the main frame, an auxiliary vertically-movable frame carried thereby, a series ot' numbering wheels or disks carried by said auxiliary frame, pinions carried by said wheels or disks, setting-levers pivotally mounted on and movable with said auxiliary frame, said levers having segmental racks adapted to engage the pinions and extending above the auxiliary frame.

12. The combination in a numbering or marking machine of the character described, of the main frame, an auxiliary movable frame carried thereby, pivotally-mounted links connecting said frames, a yielding support for said links whereby the movable frame may be normally maintained. in the raised position, said support comprising expansionsprings connected to the free ends of the links, a series of numbering-wheels carried by said movable frame, means located at the side of the machine and out of the way of said numbering-wheels for depressing the latter, an inking-roller for said Wheels carried by the movable frame, and a connection between said roller and the xed frame whereby said roller will be moved across the face of the numbering-wheels as said Wheels are depressed, such movement taking place in advance of the printing or marking operation, substantially as described.

13. The combination in a numbering or marking machine, of the main frame, an auxiliary movable frame carried thereby, a series of printing-wheels carried by said movable frame, a series of pinions carried by said printing-Wheels, setting-levers having segmental racks adapted to engage the pinions carried by the movable frame, said levers being pivoted to and movable with said frame, and means carried by the levers and frame for holding the former after the printing- Wheels have been adjusted, substantially as described.

14:. The combination in a numbering or marking machine, of the main frame, a base for the same, an auxiliary movable frame carried by said main frame and adapted to be depressed, means for depressing said auxiliary frame, a movable platen controlled by said depressing mechanism, and a projection carried by the base of the main frame and serving as a fulcrum-support for the platen when the mechanism is operated to mark the goods, substantially as described.

15. The combination in a numbering or marking machine, of the main frame, an auxiliary vertically movable frame mounted therein, a series of springs for holding said movable frame in its raised position, a series of levers controlled by said springs, said levers being pivotally hung to the main frame and connected to the movable frame, and means for contracting said springs whereby said levers may operate to depress the movable frame, substantially as described.

16. The combination in a numbering or marking machine of the character described, of the main frame, an auxiliary movable frame carried by the main frame, pivotally-mounted links connecting said frames, a series of wheels or disks carried by said auxiliary frame and having type numbers or symbols, a yielding support for the pivotally-mounted links whereby said auxiliary frame may be normally held in the raised position, said support comprising expansion-springs connected to the free ends of the links, means 'for depressing said wheels or disks, means for inking the wheels or disks, and means operatively connecting said inking means and the movable frame whereby the depressing of the latter will cause the operation of the inking device, substantially as described.

17. The combination in a numbering or marking machine of the character described,

of the main frame, an auxiliary frame verti cally movable within said main frame, pivotally-mounted links connecting said frames, means for supporting said links whereby the movable frame may be normally held in the raised position, said means comprising expansion-springs connected to the free ends of the links, a series of wheels or disks having type numbers or symbols carried by said auxiliary frame,means for depressing said wheels or disks, rotating means for inking said type numbers or symbols, and a connection with the fixed frame and said inking means Whereby the inking operation Will be carried on simultaneously with the depression of the movable frame, substantially as described.

18. The combination in a numbering or marking machine of the character described, of the main frame, an auxiliary verticallymovable frame carried thereby, pivotallymounted links connecting said frames, means for supporting said links whereby the movable frame may be maintained normally in the raised position, said means comprising expansion-springs connected to the free ends of the links, a series of numbering wheels or disks carried by said auxiliary frame, pinions ICC IIO

carried by said wheels or disks setting-levers for said pinions pivotally mounted on and movable with said auxiliary frame, and having racks adapted to engage said pinions, and coacting means carried by the movable frame and said setting-levers for locking the latter when adjusted, the members carried by the levers serving also to indicate the symbol on the wheels or disks in operative position, substantially as described.

19. The combination in a numbering or marking machine of the character described, of the fixed frame,a vertically-movable frame, pivotally mounted links connecting said frames, means for supporting said links whereby the movable frame may be maintained normally in the raised position, said means comprising expansion springs connected to the free ends of the links, a series of Wheels carried by said frame, said wheels having type numbers or symbols on their peripheries, means located wholly outside of the same for depressing said vertically-movable frame, a' roller for inking said numbering means, arms hung from the auxiliary frame and supporting said roller, and links carried by the iixed frame and pivotally connected to said arms whereby said roller will,

be moved across the face of the numberingwheels as the auxiliary frame is moved, substantially as described.

20. The combination in a numbering or marking machine of the character described, of the fixed frame, a vertically-movable frame arranged Within the iiXed frame, pivotallymounted links connecting said frames, means for supportingsaid links whereby the movable frame is held normally in the raised position, a series of marking devices carried by the movable frame, a vertically movable platen disposed beneath the marking device and means for depressing themarking devices,saidmeans being operatively connected to and serving to simultaneously raise said platen, substantially as described.

2l. The combination in a numbering o r marking machine, of the main frame, an auxl iliary movable frame carried thereby, a series of numbering-.Wheels carried by said movable frame, means for depressing the movable frame, an arm depending from the same, a movable platen yupon which the goods to be marked are placed, and supports for said platen carried by the depending arm, said connection operating to raise said platen as the A numbering-Wheels are depressed, substantially as described.

22. The combination in a numbering or marking machine, of the main frame, an auX- iliary movable frame carried thereby, a series of printing-Wheels carried by said movable frame, means for depressing the movable frame, an arm depending from the same, a movable platen upon which the goods to be marked are placed, supports for said platen carried by the depending arm, a fulcrum for the platen-supports, and means for permitting the platen to'yield under excess of pressure, substantially as described.

23. The combination in a numberingv or marking machine, of the main frame, an auxiliary movable frame carried thereby, a series of printing-wheels carried by said movable frame, means for depressing the movable frame, an arm depending from the same, a movable platen upon which the goods to be marked are placed, supports for said platen carried by the depending arm, a fulcrum for the platen -supports, and means combined with the depending arm permitting the platen to yield under excess of pressure, substantially as described.

24:. The combination in a numbering or marking machine, of the main frame, an auxiliary movable frame mounted therein, a series of compression-springs for holding said movable frame in its raised position,a series of levers controlled by said springs, said levers being pivotally hung to the main frame and' connected to the movable frame., rods passing through said springs and connected-to the upper portion of the same, a yoke connecting said rods at the bottom, and a manually-operated lever or treadle for contracting said springs whereby said levers may operate tok depress the movable frame, substantially as described.

25. The combination in a numbering or marking machine, of the mainframe, a base for the same, a movable frame carried by said main frame and adapted to be depressed, means for depressing said movable frame, a movable platen operated by said depressing mechanism, supports for said platen connected to said mechanism, and spring-fingers carried by said platen whereby it may position itself automatically to receive an impression, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ARTHUR Bl. NEILL.

Witnesses:

MURRAY C. BoYoE, Jos.- H. KLEIN.

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